Raina Heverin, a 44-year-old mother from South Mossley Hill, Liverpool, has completed a 5K walking challenge just over a year after a fall from a second-floor balcony left her in a coma for three weeks. Her 'Coma to 5K' trek raised more than £4,500 for The Brain Charity, exceeding her original £500 target by over nine times.
From Coma to 5K
Raina walked one kilometre a day for four days to complete the challenge. The milestone comes after she suffered a traumatic brain injury in April 2025 when she fell from an unlocked Juliet balcony during a weekend trip to Paris. She spent three weeks in a coma and had to relearn how to walk from scratch.
Despite continuing to grieve the life she once had, Raina was determined to challenge herself while raising awareness and vital funds for The Brain Charity, which supports people living with all forms of neurological conditions across the UK.
Supporting The Brain Charity
Raina said: "I wanted to support The Brain Charity because they’ve supported me in so many ways. From helping me access benefits to giving me the opportunity to use the Neuro Gym for rehabilitation, they’ve made such a positive difference to my life."
She added: "I'm definitely still grieving the life I had before my brain injury. There have been so many changes to adapt to, but my brain never stops ticking, and I like to set myself new challenges. I’ve always enjoyed taking on a challenge, so the 5K Challenge felt like the perfect opportunity to push myself while giving something back. I never imagined I’d raise so much money, and I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me. It feels amazing to be able to give back to a charity that has helped me so immeasurably."
Recovery and a Children's Book
Before the accident, Raina exercised almost every day, cycling, running and lifting weights. Doctors in Paris told her that her fitness had played a significant role in her survival of the fall.
Recovery has inspired Raina in more ways than one. She has also written a children's book titled My Brain and Me to help her own children understand her brain injury and the changes it has brought to family life. The book is now available to purchase online, and she is already working on a second book to help children understand how the brain works.
Charity CEO Praises Raina
Matt Meaney, CEO of The Brain Charity, said: "Raina's story is nothing short of extraordinary. To go from spending weeks in a coma and having to relearn how to walk, to completing a 5K challenge and raising over £4,500 for The Brain Charity, is a remarkable achievement."
He added: "Raina and I actually attended the same sixth form, so it's been especially inspiring to watch her determination and resilience throughout her recovery. Like so many people living with neurological conditions, she has faced challenges most of us can scarcely imagine, yet she has chosen to use her experience to help others. We're incredibly grateful for her support and hope her story encourages more people to understand the realities of brain injury and the importance of specialist support."
The Brain Charity is a national charity that provides support to people with neurological conditions and their families. The charity offers a range of services, including information and advice, counselling, support groups, activities and a Neuro Gym, which operates from the charity's centre in Liverpool. For more information, visit thebraincharity.org.uk. To support Raina's campaign, visit her JustGiving page.
